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WHILE THE PRESENCE and pronouncements of politicians at the National Ploughing Championship is now a hardy perennial, they can’t overshadow the event itself.
A total of 75,500 people made their way down for the first day of the 93rd annual Championships in Ratheniska, Co Laois as temperatures climbed above 20 degrees by the afternoon.
Nowhere else in the world can you come across the National Brown Bread Making Contest and the head of state on the same day other than at The Ploughing, the event spearheaded for the last 50 years by 90-year-old trailblazer and businesswoman Anna May McHugh.
President Michael D Higgins gave this enthusiastic view of the event during his speech at the opening ceremony, just a few minutes after the historic contest got underway:
“The spectacle of so many people enjoying one of the social highlights of the year makes it not only one of the most important dates in our national calender, but also one of the most authentic expressions of an Ireland that remains to connected to land and nature.”
Later, when asked what message he had for the population of Laois, he said: “Appreciate the sun. Be kind to each other. And may your kindness exceed the sun beyond today.”
At least someone was in good form as across the campus – facing a farm machinery display in the trade arena – Sinn Féin espoused a much less positive view of the feelings of the people of Laois and rural Ireland.
“There’s a real fear that farming may not be viable or attractive for young people to come and to have the life but also be part of the industry,” leader Mary Lou McDonald told press.
While bakers were wondering who would bag the €5,000 grand prize for the best loaf, and music fans were enjoying the tunes in the (literal) RTÉ circus tent, all public representatives were keen to get as much face time with the countrymen-and-women as they could.
“What struck me this year is the big conversation seems to be about sustainability and succession on farms,” McDonald said.
The Sinn Féin leadership faced journalists for 15 minutes this afternoon outside its stand which promoted its housing policy.
Asked why no mention of farming was included on its stand, McDonald insisted housing was “at the heart of” the issues facing rural communities.
The rural communities of Ireland have long had a tetchy relationship with the urban-based bubble of Leinster House.
It should come as no surprise to learn that 80% of farmers told a poll, published today by Agriland, that they believed climate measures brought in during the current Government’s term have had a negative impact on the economic status of their businesses.
It’s a delicate dance for politicians to engage with the farming community, particularly as so many feel that they’ve been neglected – and unfairly blamed for Ireland’s climate laggard status.
Taoiseach Simon Harris acknowledged many of these often-heard criticisms today.
“Any farmer I meet doesn’t fear change,” he said.
“Any farmer I meet understands climate and the environment, quite frankly, better than any of us who talk about it in offices or talk about it in the Dáil chamber.”
All over the festival, companies joined exhibitions to show off that change – through new and renewable ways that the various trades in the industry can be carried out sustainably.
Teagasc – the advisory and research agency for the Department of Agriculture – was showing farmers the correct methods to properly make cows reach winter weight targets and how to properly maintain buffer zones in fields to protect water on site from fertiliser and pesticide run-off.
Meanwhile, Enterprise Ireland’s ‘Innovation Arena’ housed approximately 30 Irish start-up businesses from the agri-tech sector to tackle every aspect of farming, from dairy to care of the soil.
This enthusiasm for new technologies is shared by the farming community, according to the Taoiseach.
“Farmers have nothing to fear from change – they know that, they don’t fear it. But what they do fear is their business and their industry not being made viable as a process of that change.”
The Taoiseach later added that measures would be included in the Budget to help smaller, family farms and in the future reforms of the EU Common Agricultural Policy too.
Agriland’s poll also found that support for Fianna Fáil has hit a “historic low” among farmers of 14%. The party now stands at just under half of farmer’s first preference support for their historic rivals Fine Gael, with 27%.
No Fianna Fáil TD or Minister was put before the media today. Though Finance Minister Jack Chambers did give a brief smile and wave to reporters as the press corp gathered outside the Sinn Féin tent.
Asked about a different poll from this week which also placed his party ahead of Fianna Fáil among the general public, Harris attributed his party’s popularity to its work to re-energise the organisation and said: “Polls come and comes go, and there’ll be another poll tomorrow and another poll the next day.”
In the crowd around Harris, during his statements to the media this afternoon, The Journal witnessed event-goers turn away from the comotion after realising it was “only the Taoiseach”. So who knows if any of this meeting and greeting really works.
There’s so much else to see and do in Ratheniska in the sun.
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Apple are an awful shower of bastards altogether.
Sent from my iPhone.
Comment of the week!
About time, absolutely astonishing & disgraceful this company can only offer a 12 month warranty on its phones with base models costing €550. Most if not all other manufacturers offer 24 month warranties.
Name one
O let me see, I’ll spoil you, Samsung, HTC, Sony, Nokia, even the humble alcatel & hawuai to name but a few, is this enough for you?
Samsung 2 year warranty on a range of tablets
Apple really think they can do and say what they want… Though honestly anybody who listened to the crap they were spoofing them really must have had no clue, alot of them are apple zombies anyway who will do what they’re told. Know your rights when you buy something… You can return any purchase within a certain period after committing to buy something regardless of what any company tell you for a refund.. And to say they won’t cover any manufacturer fault in first 12 months is a joke… Make the biggest scene you can in the store and refuse to leave anywhere till it’s sorted… They’ll accept it then…!
My Sony xperia has a 24 month warranty.
Had am issue with an acer laptop when the hard drive went 6 weeks after purchase. All pc world would offer was a repair
And make do without the laptop.
Eh no you can’t stop misinforming people….
In law you are only entitled to your money back if you have purchased a faulty product(the most common one) or else if you can prove you have been misled during the sale or the product is not fit for purpose.
If you just change your mind as a consumer the retailer can technically tell you to go suck a lemon it’s your problem you changed your mind about the item.However most company’s will have an exchange (not refund)policy to be consumer friendly within a certain time period and some also may give money back on purchases in certain situations (or the whole time within a certain time period if that is the company policy)but they are not legally obliged to do so…
Apple has a 2 year warranty too – in Europe. They have to under European law.
That’s right, Emily. Nobody should allow themselves to be convinced that they are only covered by a 12 month warranty. European law makes 24 months the minimum.
Samsung warranties are a joke. They will tell you your phone has moisture damage and the warranty doesn’t apply. Google water damage Samsung.
Actually the European Consumer law is a little more hazy than you think. It doesn’t state you have a 2 year warranty, it says you have 2 years to make a claim. And Apple on their own site state that in most European jurisdictions the onus is on the consumer to prove there was a fault when the product was delivered. Either way, Apple are clearly a law unto themselves in their eyes. And either have little faith in their products lasting more than a year or are just the ultimate example of corporate greed. The latter me thinks….
By law you’re not entitled to a refund unless it’s faulty!
samsung 24 months send you a free jiffy bag to send the phone back to them to repair.and if like myself they cant repair it they replaced it with a newer model
By law the retailer can either refund, replace or repair an item which was not fit (faulty) for purpose. Not obliged to refund only. The choice lies with the retailer. You are correct about when customer just changes mind. No obligation whatsoever on the retailer to take it back.
Samsung
LG
Toshiba
Sony
er
Panasonic
Do I win?
Nokia
Funny you should say Samsung, their S4 is apparently waterproof but the bloody warranty doesn’t cover water damage.
Not sure were u got that info re waterproof, the S4 is certainly not and was never advertised as being so. The Z1 does claim some protection against water damage but all manufacturers will void a warranty if there is liquid or water damage.
The s4 is not waterproof. There is however a waterproof model called the s4 active.
The z1 does more than just claim some protection against water. It’s fully water proof. I have taken underwater videos and pics with it.
I bought a laptop from click.ie, nothing but trouble. All they are offering me was repairs. Found out later they are operating even though they are in liquidation.
Great isn’t it! Mine got a bit dusty at work and I just took it in the shower with me
Apple tried that crap on me over a charger, the folded when I asserted my rights. They put that as a ‘gesture’ they were replacing the faulty unit after 12 months when in fact they are legally obliged. Feel sorry for people who take their word and pay for repairs and replacements they are legally entitled to.
Thought this might be of interest http://www.apple.com/legal/additional_legal_rights.html. It’s post on the apple store website, the same rights extend to products from other manufacturers. People are seemingly obsessed with bitching about Apple, many issues with other companies, remember when Microsoft were the big evil monster corporation?
Much like many fanboys are obsessed with defending them. All in the same boat.
I remember very well when Microsoft were the bad guys. Apple was then the fair crowd and people would say how Apple would never be like Microsoft.
Time has shown us Apple are much much worse. The ideals the once stood for is gone completely. Mind you anybody who thought they wouldn’t do this were just being stupid.
Android battery life sucks balls. That is all.
I agree completely.
With Karl
Kal, good lord, being in the swamp with samsung and android fan boys has actually lowered my intelligence,
My galaxy note 3 has a 3200mAh battery and I can squeeze 2 days out it even with plenty of use, iphone I was lucky to get 2 hours.
The Galaxy Note is more a tablet than a phone. You should carry around an iPad if you like bigger screens. Excellent battery life. 2 hours from your iphone? – total BS. You wish you had an iphone more like.
I have a toshiba laptop 1 year later the fan went. They booked an Irish contractor who sent a courier to collect it, fixed in 5 days and returned no hassle.
How do ye think Apple would fare here? Is Irish consumer law strong enough? I doubt it, but….
Read the article before making stupid comments.
Wasn’t it only last year that in Europe Apple were forced to put an explainer on their websites homepage and they didn’t make it prominent enough and so were forced to make it bigger
As far as I am aware it is the customers reasonable expectation of the product that dictates the guarantee, you buy a cheap item and it is ok to expect it to last a 12 months, you pay a lot for an item and it is your expectation of the product. I use this argument all the time if goods fail, never let me down yet. I have has to threaten small claims court but no problems so far.
A lot of misunderstanding there, it’s actually quicker to deal directly with Apple, quicker and a more efficient service for repairs and service. People tend to be just afraid to make a phone call.
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